Above: Isis (seated right) welcoming the Greek heroine Io as she is borne into Egypt on the shoulders of the personified Nile, as depicted in a Roman wall painting from Pompeii. - Athena, goddess of widsom, was a lesbian. I thought of both of them as asexual (and Artemis was an aro ace arrow ace, haha!). There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. As a god he had immense power and influence. A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? Based on that version of Orion's story (like pretty much every other myth, there are lots of different versions, and Artemis doesn't fall in love with Orion in all of them), demiromantic asexual makes a lot of sense. While Homer never explicitly states a gay relationship between Achilles and sidekick Patroclus, many scholars read a romantic connection between the two, as only Patroclus ever drew out a compassionate side to the famously arrogant warrior. Above: Antonio Verrio, The Gods on Mount Olympus (1690-1694), AchillesThe Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior's romantic defenses. He was the patron of knowledge and learning and also a creative god. Greek Gods and goddesses. However, many scholars now consider this myth as a creation of the Franciscan friars during the post-Conquest period. And while some stories list Daphnis, the inventor of pastoral poetry, as the son of Hermes, other sources claim him to be the god of speed's favorite lover. Xipe Totec (pronounced Shee-peh Toh-tek) is Our Lord with the flayed skin. Xipe Totec was the god of agricultural fertility, the east and the goldsmiths. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.. One such example is the Celtic god Nordens, who was god of hunting and the Roman god Mars, who acted as the god of war and protector of agriculture. Son of Baldr and Nanna. A mix of stories from ancient history and mythology merged together by bards or the kings poets to record important family history of kings. Best known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and . C Chulainn or Cchulainn features often in the Ulster Cycles of Irish mythology. On the other hand, she was the goddess of the crafts, many of which (such as weaving) are more associated with women. Like her son Enki/Ea she is also associated with magic. Both the gods of Lugh and the Dagda are supposedly buried in the sacred center of the island of Ireland, As a god he had immense power and influence. His father, Lugh, was one of the major Celtic gods and his mother, Deichtine, was a mortal making him a demi-god, although some say that he was the reincarnation of his father Lugh. As far as she was concerned, love didn't equal sex. Aengus skill with poetry was thought to be so great that he was able to break magic spells with this gift, such as the one placed on tain in the love story with Midir. The Greek word aphros means "foam," and Hesiod relates in his Theogony that Aphrodite was born from the white foam produced by the severed genitals of Uranus (Heaven), after his son Cronus threw them into the sea. Should I clarify that with an edit? The table is ordered by the Greek god's name. Her name means "The one who give and devours life" and she required many human sacrifices to sustain her. Aphrodite was, in fact, widely worshipped as a goddess of the sea and of . 10 of 10 Tlaltecuhtli, Earth Goddess Donn, the Irish god of death may have been an aspect of the Dagda. In nearly every work of Greek literature that is tangentially related to sexuality (which, we've got to admit, is quite nearly most of the well-known ones), sex is treated as universally desirable, and is a locus of control and power. But I'm going to focus specifically on Athena. For example: Dionysius is, based on what I've read, abstinent due to indifference to sexuality. t. e. In Hindu mythology, there are deities or heroes whose attributes or behavior can be interpreted as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender ( LGBT) or have elements of gender variance and non-heterosexual sexuality. Alastor - God of vengeance and family feuds. There are actually several Celtic goddesses connected with water. Enjoyed this post? ThoughtCo. Ultimately the Morrigan predicted C Chulainns violent death and a crow (the most common symbol of the Morrigan goddess) signified his death on the battlefield when it landed on his shoulder. The Aztec believed that the cries and tears of newborn children were sacred to the god, and, therefore, many ceremonies for Tlaloc involved the sacrifice of children. after killing the trusted guard dog of Culainn in self defense, by accurately hitting a sliotar (ball used in the Irish game of hurling) down its throat as it attacked him. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. It is possibly fitting then that Aengus, the Irish god of love, youth, summer and poetry, was in fact a love child himself. This post contains affiliate links. Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare and craftsmanship. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. A few more things that I find interesting about Athena and her asexuality is that she really does seem sexless in the way that she acts. While Homer never explicitly states a gay relationship between Achilles and sidekick Patroclus, many scholars read a romantic connection between the two, as only Patroclus ever drew out a compassionate side to the famously arrogant warrior. She was very well respected by the people who worshipped her, and very important to their society. The "lesser status" applied to men past adolescence who continued to be on the receiving end of things. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. Osiris was a god responsible for taking care of the departed souls in the next world. During his female years, Teiresias became a priestess of Hera, married, and even had children, according to Hesiod. According to Ovid, he never took another female lover after that -- but did love other young men in Thrace. For her, love was what most people feel for their brothers and their sisters, so she was quite suprised and disgusted when he tried to have sex with her, and left immediatly, of course. Half man. ZeusWhile a famous philanderer who sired countless demigods by every peasant girl in need of an explanation to her parents, Zeus famously selected the young mortal Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, the fireside, architecture, domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. Above: Antonio Verrio, The Gods on Mount Olympus (1690-1694), AchillesThe Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior's romantic defenses. She is the twin sister of the god Apollo and one of the Twelve Olympian gods who live on Mount Olympus. 3 Comments. While Artemis, for example, could have sexual desires without contradicting her status as the goddess of the hunt (or even the goddess of virginity - she was abstinent, not necessarily asexual), the whole concept seems to go against Athena's essential nature. NikeAguaraguazu. There are many holy wells scattered across Ireland dedicated to Saint Brigid some of which may have previously been connected with Brigid, the Celtic goddess of healing. So this is more an avenue for research than a definitive answer. The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.. Iphis was born female but raised male by his mother, who concealed the truth because her husband wanted a male heir. In addition to his role as a sea god, Manannn also took care of the welfare of the Tuatha d Danann when they were forced into the fairy mound, or sdhe, after being defeated by the Milesian invaders. By contrast, most Hindus (61%) and Jains (54%) say that there is . There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. Lugh Celtic God of Justice and Mischief, The Dagda Celtic God of Agriculture, Fertility and Seasons and King of the Gods, Aengus Celtic God of Love, Youth, Summer and poetry, ine Celtic Goddess of Love, Wealth and Sovereignty, Brigid Celtic Goddess of Healing, Poetry and Blacksmithing, Flidas Celtic Goddess of Cattle and Fertility, Stories of the main gods of Celtic mythology and the early battles and invasions on the the Island of Ireland. This doesn't necessarily mean she was gay or aro ace. Anyone would like to add anything i missed? The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Alastor God of family feuds and avenger of evil deeds. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. 17 Favourites. Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. Watch. ), While there isn't a whole lot of evidence either way, the speculation I've read about whether Athena had sex with anyone seems to have trouble differentiating between Athena as an asexual figure or an abstinent one. Retells the famous tales about Fionn mac Cumhail (or Finn McCool) and the band of Irish warriors known as the Fianna. How to match a specific column position till the end of line? Yeah, this is still a very interesting answer. Bri - Ruler of Prehistory, the first god and father of Borr. Didn't seem to be as much of a phenomenon among the rest of society in old Greece. Nicoletta Maestri holds a Ph.D. in Mesoamerican archaeology with fieldwork experience in Italy, the Near East, and throughout Mesoamerica. https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042 (accessed March 4, 2023). Despite being married, C Chulainn is also known for his many affairs including with Aife, with whom he has a son and the Scandinavian Princess,Derbforgaill who turned into a swan to be with him. Enjoyed this post? There is one story in which the god [Hephaestus] was told by Ares that Athena wanted to make love to him, so when she asked him to make her some new weapons, he said that the only payment he would need was her love. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. In addition to the connection of the holy wells, Brigid and Catholic Saint Brigid are also connected by the feast day of February 1st. - Poseidon, god of the seas, was bisexual. She is said to be responsible for the rage and fury of a battle and her terrifying scream can kill or paralyze a man. iva, goddess of love and fertility. Above: Zeus and Ganymede, artist and date unknown. His shrine was decorated with blue bands representing rain and water. During the great migration from their legendary home of Aztalan, Huitzilopochtli told the Aztecs where they should establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan and urged them on their way. Lugh is thought to have been the father of demi god and famous Irish warrior, Are Celtic gods immortal? In another story of rape, ine exacted revenge by turned her offender, Gerald, Earl of Desmond into a goose.. Eight gods (Apollo, Areas, Dionysus, Hades, Hephaestus, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus) are arguably the most important of the Greek gods. Some of the main Celtic deity types and main gods and goddesses of each are listed below.. ThoughtCo, Jul. It's one of my favorite videos on the channel. a more solid source for that version of the Erichthonius story. While many of the other greek gods - men and women alike - were promiscous, Athena was completely asexual, and not because she was a "pure" goddess of chasity or something. Asexuality has been around for a long time, and some of those asexuals were very well respected by their societies. HermesThe wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. And didn't Athena get born by popping whole out of Zeus's head? Few Indians believe 'there are many gods'. Dagur - God of the daytime, son of Delling and Ntt. CallistoThis nymph follower of Artemis took a vow to remain a virgin and could not be tempted even by Zeus, at least in male form. Other myths also disclose Achilles was struck by the beauty of Troilus, a Trojan prince. The Dagda is the Celtic god of. Hod. As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either, The frenzy of battle is connected with the aspect of, Good, fruitful harvests were required to provide for the people and animals, therefore much emphasis was placed on gods and goddesses that represent fertility, such as, There are several stories that connect ine to. Thanks for your support! Researcher Johanna Hypatia-Cybelaia writes that lesbian and gay devotees worshipped her as Artemis Orthia, and that lesbian port Pamphilia referred to the goddess in hymn as Artemis Pergaea. His name means Maize cob Lord. The Dagda is not thought to have welcomed the news of the arrival of Aengus. She was also the Goddess of more things then you can count - most notably, wisdom, stratigic and honorable warfare (not fighting for the sake of fighting, that was Ares' realm) and the crafts - and she seems to have been either directly or indirectly responsible for what seems like most of the great myths that were told. In Rome, the Vestal Virgins (the servants of Hestia, who kept the fires of Rome burning) were some of the most respected people in the realm. However in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, we read. As another example, Eros is often referred to as being one of those omnipresent entities in male interactions in Greek culture. It was not considered repulsive or wrong, unless you were on the receiving end, then you were considered to be of lesser status and submissive. Also, we're talking about beings that had not exclusively sex with humans, meaning not only mythical creatures but animals, or being themselves in animal form and having sex. Call him mythology's original transgender person. A myth traced in origin to the Boeotia region mentions a relationship between Narcissus and the smitten Ameinias, whom Narcissus would eventually grow tired of before sending him a sword as a kiss-off. Aglaia is one of three daughters to Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. Researcher Johanna Hypatia-Cybelaia writes that lesbian and gay devotees worshipped her as Artemis Orthia, and that lesbian port Pamphilia referred to the goddess in hymn as Artemis Pergaea. Bustin' Out! There's some discussion about whether Artemis was lesbian, but either way, not asexual. She then jumps in. Above: Hans Sebald Beham, Heracles and Iolaus dispatching the hydra with club and fire, PoseidonAccording to Pindar's First Olympian Ode, Pelops, the king of Pisa, once shared "Aphrodite's sweet gifts" with the ocean god himself. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? At times, these names could be used interchangeably. id love to hear more on this topic from people with bigger brains than I. According to some stories he was the husband, or perhaps the father of the goddess ine and foster father of the god Lugh. What exactly were all those men doing before she came? Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. Chalchiuhtlicue (pronounced Tchal-chee-uh-tlee-ku-eh) was the goddess of running water and all aquatic elements. Eir - Goddess of healing. A study of Athena by Karl Kerenyi links her virginal nature to her relationship with her father. Good, fruitful harvests were critical for the survival of Celtic people and animals, so it is easy to see how central a role this god played in the, One ritual to ensure a fruitful harvest in the coming year was the annual coupling of the Dagda with his wife, the, Some of the Dagdas most prized possessions included an, The Dagda was the supposed father of several other important figures in Irish mythology including the goddess, The Dagda is not thought to have welcomed the news of the arrival of, It is said that upon hearing the news that Boann was pregnant, the Dagda attempted to, It is possibly fitting then that Aengus, the, One story exists of how the Dagda when assigning land to his children, he forgot to leave land for Aengus. Surly Straggler vs. other types of steel frames, Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Spurned, Ciconian women would eventually tear Orpheus apart during a Bacchic orgy. I don't know exactly why I am writing this post, and I know that nobody else cares, I just think that it's interesting, especially in our society where sex is so valued above almost everything else, that a completely asexual woman could be viewed as one of the most powerful and respected dieties to ancient greek society. It appears that Manannn took over the role of the sea god from his father, although some tales suggest that Lir was the god of the ocean and Manannn was the god of the sea. Replacing broken pins/legs on a DIP IC package. Good, fruitful harvests were critical for the survival of Celtic people and animals, so it is easy to see how central a role this god played in the Celtic pantheon. No emphasis seems to be placed in any writings on the absence of sexuality in the Greek gods. However, that ended poorly when Myrmex pretended to have invented the plow, one of Athena's creations, and Athena turned the girl into an ant. Mona Koza, Centeotl (pronounced Cen-teh-otl) was the god of maize, and as such he was based on a pan-Mesoamerican god shared by Olmec and Maya religions. September 8, 2006 in Asexual Musings and Rantings. The hunt especially was important to them, and if they didn't have her blessing, then the hunt would not turn out very well. Often, the origins of the Aztec gods can be traced back to those from earlier Mesoamerican religionsor shared by other societies of the day. 3. Above: Johann Georg Platzer, The Amazon Queen Thalestris in the Camp of Alexander the Great, TeiresiasThe blind prophet of Apollo was most famous in Greek myth for being transformed from a man into a woman for seven years. His prayer too is granted, and the pool of Salmacis was reputed to take away the virility of men. Athena really did not have any interest in sex at all. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. She tried unsuccessfully to seduce him and when this failed, she sought revenge for his spuned rejections by attacking C Chulainn in the form of an eel, a wolf and a heifer. she became a he. Bisexual. It is likely that the early Christian Church decided to incorporate Brigid in the form of Saint Brigid of Kildare into their teachings to appeal to her worshippers.. Either romantic love or sexual desire would be, in some sense, a departure from the pure reason which characterises Athena. Danu is occasionally referred to as Anu, although some sources may indicate that Anu was another goddess completely. Above: Jean-George Vibert, Narcissus, ApolloThe sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. Ameinias, desperately depressed over the rejection, killed himself. There doesn't seem to be anything to suggest that Dionysius doesn't experience sexual attraction, irrespective of whether he partakes in it. He only earned his name C Chulainn (Irish for Hound of Culainn) after killing the trusted guard dog of Culainn in self defense, by accurately hitting a sliotar (ball used in the Irish game of hurling) down its throat as it attacked him. PanOf course, many mythological texts and artworks connect Daphnis to the satyr Pan, god of music. As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving. In another story of rape, ine exacted revenge by turned her offender, Additionally, the goddess Brigid associations include, Interestingly, Brigid is thought to have been a. Brigid was the goddess Celtic people turned to when they needed to be healed. He searches day and night until he finds her at the Lake of the Dragons Mouth. Above: Enrique Simonet, El Juicio de Paris (1904), ErosWhile the best-known myths of Eros depict the son of Aphrodite as a fertility god -- the version that proved inspirational to the popularized Roman god Cupid -- later Greek myths portrayed Eros as one of several winged erotes, and the one regarded as a protector of homosexual culture, according to research in the scholarly book Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. Siebog, god of love and marriage. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Size queen. Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor yet ensnare. earliest literary reference to an intersex person. If you preorder a special airline meal (e.g. ArtemisTwin sister to Apollo, the goddess was by differing accounts a nearly asexual virgin or a lesbian with many nymph lovers, including Cyrene, Atalanta, and Anticleia as well as moon goddess Dictynna. The Hill of Knockainy (orCnoc ine) in County Limerick was an important site, where ritual blessings to this Irish goddess were carried out. Hestia is described as a kind, forgiving and discreet goddess with a passive, non-confrontational nature. While homosexual love was definitely not news to the ancient Greeks, would all of humanity be involved in homosexual love until the first human woman came? He is credited with the creation of a large hunting game. Despite his strong protests and attempts to throw her off, she forcibly entwines herself around him. What is Artemis? Her name means she of the Jade Skirt. Well most of them cheated on their spouse anyway. In later times, her role is taken on by Tiamat. In Navajo mythology, Tsohanoai is the husband of the goddess of seasons, Estsanatlehi. Above: Pentheus Scorns The Prophecies of Tiresias, AthenaThe goddess of wisdom and patron of Athens was a virgin by nearly every mythological account but did express a romantic attraction to the Attic maiden Myrmex. - 400 C.E. Unfortunately there is very little information found in the surviving Medieval Irish texts about Danu. Clodhna, was the daughter of the sea god Manannan and like him, also has a special connection to the Celtic Otherworld., In Irish folklore,Snann was responsible for the overflowing of a well that led to creation of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. @Emrakul That's fair; I'd also like some stronger evidence, e.g. Dionysus (1629), HeraclesThe famous hero had a number of male companions through his many trials. Celtic pagan gods and goddesses were thought to have special influential powers over aspects of daily life and the natural world. Monolithic Statue of Tlaltecuhtli from the Aztec Templo Mayor, Mexico City. This marks Imbolc, the pagan festival that celebrates the first day of spring and now is also the feast day of the Christian Saint Brigid. Namma (goddess) Goddess from Eridu. Can I tell police to wait and call a lawyer when served with a search warrant? Size queen. Hestia/Vesta - The goddess of the home. Athena, Artemis, and Hestia come to mind as examples. The Pseudo-Apollodorus also said Apollo had been with Thracian singer Thamyris in the first man-on-man relationship in history. This website saves cookies to your browser in order to improve your online experience and show you personalized content. Above: Athena, center, in a mural by John Singer Sargent, AphroditeWhile the goddess of love is not identified prominently as lesbian herself, the Greek poet Sappho (as in sapphic) of Lesbos (yes, as in lesbian) told many homoerotic tales and named Aphrodite as the greatest patron and ally of lesbians and homosexuals within the Greek pantheon of gods. Plato was a wrestler who competed in the Isthmian Games, a Greek athletic event similar to the Olympics. The Goddess Athena - Asexuality and the Gods, AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. Bisexual. She also set her sights on C Chulainn and tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. NarcissusA figure mostly known for his obsessive vanity, this son of a nymph and a river god would spend his last days gazing at his own reflection, but the first man he showed affection for was not himself. It is said that the games were founded in memory of Lughs foster mother Tailtiu, who was also thought to be a goddess.. He was also connected with rightfulness, especially in terms of kingship. It is possible that some might have been asexual. I find it interesting how there are so many virgin goddesses in relgions, and how respected they usually are. Her major symbols include owls, snakes, olive trees, and the Gorgoneion.